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bettycooperoutfitwatch · 3 years

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4x15 Chapter Seventy-Two: To Die For

Jughead died as he lived:

The world’s most dramatic bitch.

But that’s okay, because his plan hinges on everyone else in Riverdale being just as messy—and it works!

We finally reach the flash forward we witnessed in 410: the cropped red trousers, the stripe-y Juliet puff shoulders.

I’m not even gonna get into the waste of public resources (search parties, forensics, all of this costs money), I’m just gonna wave my hands and shrug, it’s Riverdale, etc.

One, this shot is really well set-up (the mirror fracture? Nice), and two, appears to have been filmed on a potato.

Two potatoes.

Three if you include Kevin, whose exposition-delivery work in this episode is especially thankless.

One of Betty’s two most-utilized purses this season, which are actually the same purse with slightly different stylings. This one is the simpler of the two.

The peacoat we’ve also seen a few times.

Cousin Cheryl puts Cousin Betty on suicide watch. It’s a lot.

So much of the core four’s plan hinges on other people. This is pure Scooby Doo logic. Let’s not dwell.

I repeat, for like the 89th time, this show hasn’t taken set dec photos since season one.

The raccoon eyes!

We’ve literally seen all of this before, so I won’t repeat myself.

Well, spoke too soon.

This sweater-of-much-debate first popped up in a flash forward at the end of 405 and then once more in 408. We’re really getting to the end of these flash forwards now, it would seem.

...

Do you think Betty and Jug got into some felon role-play after all this was over?

You know what, never mind, never mind.

🙃

This shirt looks a lot like one Betty wore in 105. Maybe they’re the same, maybe they’re not. There’s a lot of season one touches in this ep.

Well.

Initiate phase 2 of the plan, I guess: let’s plan a funeral.

Stripe-y ribbed turtleneck and a suede mini. This outfit will come up again, we’ll talk about it then.

Throughout this episode, we see a lot of different characters wear touches of tartan. It’s not the first time we’ve seen most of these people wear tartan or some kind of check print detail (yes, even Hiram)—but here it sort of reads as their tribute to Jughead.

Veronica’s collar.

Hiram’s shirt.

Archie’s tie.

FP goes for a glen plaid suit and a windowpane tie, the extra is clearly genetic.

Betty’s funeral attire is very classically Betty—sheer, swiss-dot puff sleeves, and A-line cut to the dress. Her hair is notably down, like the first time we saw her at a funeral.

A lot of people argue that Betty wears what looks like a J+B necklace in Jug’s dream opening to 222. I always thought that was her B pendant necklace, but idk anymore—I could be convinced given its showing here.

(Jellybean’s tights.)

Peep Betty’s pointy-toe kitten heels, with the little metallic embellishments.

Does Riverdale have a very active amateur theatrical society? Everyone’s really bringing their A game here.

Betty reads an excerpt from Arthur Conan Doyle’s story “The Final Problem,” which...girl.

To keep it brief (ha), Conan Doyle intended “The Final Problem” to be the last Sherlock Holmes story—which he tried to ensure by killing off his hero.

But then fans got mad at him and after a while of that, his hero rose from the dead in “The Adventure of the Empty House.”

What a way to telegraph, Elizabeth.

(Jellybean’s jellybean necklace!!)

(There’s nothing so enjoyable as hearing Ms. Reinhart call someone a bitch in that Midwestern twang. Truly, a delight.)

Anyway. People still have doubts about Jug’s life-status.

Initiate phase 3: the nuclear option.

I really can’t tell if this ribbed long-sleeve turtleneck is a pale pink or an oatmeal, and that frustrates me. If it’s pink, well then Betty’s wearing pink and a rusty red-ish color—meaning the next phase of this master plan is underway, and it involves Cheryl being Riverdale’s other resident chief messy bitch:

Pink and red—as we’ve discussed several times before—are Betty’s Archie colors.

They’re not always a symbol of a romantic connection, but that’s defo the weight costuming is trying to impart here.

At this point, we (technically) don’t know that Jughead isn’t dead. Using this motif in this moment is just another way of trying to convince the audience that the act everyone is putting on here is real—both the internal audience within the show (RHS, the town-at-large, but more specifically the Stonewall group), and the external one (us).

Visually there’s also almost too much going on with this shirt. Contrasting patterns, contrast v-neck, Juliet puffs on the sleeves. It’s a lot, it’s visually confusing in a way that mirrors the actual plot machinations of the story. Her mental state is stressed.

I include it for the boots and the skinny jeans, which are very season one-esque. Don’t @ me.

A moment for Veronica’s knit.

Betty wore this very shirt, in another coloring, in 318! I like to think of this as another little costuming easter egg, that it suggests B & V are secretly on the same team here—and after all, they are.

Same purse from earlier in the ep, and a jacket that first debuted in season 3.

That’s the face of a girl on a mission.

Listen.

We know.

Boyfriend’s S shirt.

...consider how tame that fake kiss above is in light of this message.

Anyway:

Pour one out for the sex bunker of death!!

What favor did Betty do for Archie such that she is owed a milkshake? Give me friendship shit!!!

Visually, this is an intentional throwback to episode 102, in which Archie tries to apologetically text Betty after telling her he’ll never love her, only to be shut down.

The yellow shirt, the ballet bun, the shorts, the same gd teal phone case. It’s all intentional.

415:

102:

We haven’t seen Betty and Archie interact much this season between the time Fred died and...basically this plot. So these itty bitty crumbs are what’s supposed to make us believe all the shit that goes down several eps from now, but we’ll cross that (very dumb) bridge when we get to it.

The cable-knit is kind of season one throwback, too.

On the right her earring looks like a heart with an arrow through it, but idk idk.

Her kicks are the same she wore in 403.

I could say I’m including this here because she’s wearing plaid, it’s in honor of Jug, blah blah—but honestly it’s just cause she looks gorg here. That’s all.

Summary: T e n outfits, ten. That includes two we’ve seen previously in flash forwards, two sets of pajamas, and one instance of boyfriend-wear.

Is Betty a River Vixen??: ...only in Jug’s Stonewall spank bank. Also, isn’t the season over? Football ended. It’s fake murder season now.

Backpack 2.0?: Mhm.

The floggingink Memorial Peter Pan Collar Count: with all the season 1 shit being thrown at us, you’d expect it, wouldn’t you? But no.

Best outfit: I’m into the funeral look I think!

#4x15 #s4 #riverdale #betty cooper #betty cooper outfit watch #i cannot convey to you how infuriating it was to make this post #tumblr is broken

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go-ldy · 4 years

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Riverdale thoughts 4x03

Shirtless men and rocket ships, oh my.

Man so many wild things happened this week, I don't even know where to start.

Well actually I do: "....while he takes off in his rocket." LMAOOOOOOO WHAT

And then we cut to maybe the most ridiculous rocket prop I have ever seen, amazing, glorious, five stars.

I do have some questions about this arc though. And I mean, it's Riverdale, so the answer is "don't think about it" but here we go.

Why is the FBI cool with randomly involving Charles' teen sister in FBI business including letting her have all this deep inside information?

Why did the FBI not immediately go in all guns blazing after their pizza agent was killed?

How did the Farm sneak Polly inside of the FBI headquarters while she was literally wearing an exploding BOMB and somehow nobody noticed???

How DID Betty and Alice get themselves out of those restraints?

You really expect me to believe that Alice was a deep inside agent all of last year when she was busy, I don't know, GIVING ALL OF BETTY'S MONEY AWAY oh and TELLING THE FARM, ON TAPE, ABOUT THAT TIME SHE MURDERED SOMEONE AND HER DAUGHTER, JUGHEAD, AND FP COVERED IT UP? This storyline is unbelievable and I say this after watching an episode where a character tried to escape on his moon rocket. Anyway, Alice is an awful parent and Betty should run away but I feel like we're gonna be sold a narrative that Alice is some kind of badass hero and ugh.....

On the other hand, I was perfectly prepared to accept that Betty instinctively knew how to disarm a live bomb with a bobby pin so there you go. What can't Betty Cooper accomplish I ask you.

Lmao @ the shirtless car wash to raise money for Archie's community centre. I have to appreciate this show's adamant commitment to objectifying all of its male characters week after week. Equality achieved.

17 year old Archie beating up some thugs in the middle of the night and stealing their laundered money to give to his community centre like some kind of Robin Hood and then going around telling people like ":))))))))" was such an unbelievably stupid Archie thing to do. Very true to character tbh.

So Tony, Cheryl, and Nana Rose are basically parenting the twins?? Oh lord. Fine.

LMAO @ the rat crawling out of Jason's dead body..... eww. And then Cheryl sews him up afterwards? Oh my god this is a place I don't want to go to or think about, please stop. (They’re not going to stop.)

It is very Riverdale that in an episode where Betty is trying to prevent cult-induced mass murder, the same narrative importance is placed on Jughead's spat with 40 yr old high school student Brett over a..... writing contest.

Hi Moose! Sorry about your stress induced breakdown! Sounds like that was a LOT. I like the show just casually confirming Moose is bi. Cool. NOT cool was Brett outing his deep dark past at the end. Why did you do that Brett? What do you have against Moose? Does he snore in the middle of the night? Bye Moose.

How cute were Betty and Jughead in this episode? SO CUTE. "In it for the long haul." Ugh just precious.

I do feel #alone in that I would love some Bughead angst again but I also accept cuteness. It did make me sad that Betty felt like she had to deal with the Farm completely on her own and I felt like Jughead should have been more concerned that she was almost strapped to a bus and driven over a cliff or whatever but fine.

OOOH A SECRET VHS TAPE LATE NIGHT DELIVERY. Cool, cool, cool.

#Riverdale spoilers #Riverdale #Riverdale 4x03 #Bughead #Riverdale thoughts #riverdale is a true delight

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lovedinapastlife · 5 years

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3x11 “The Red Dahlia” - Riverdale Reaction

Somebody ought to go in these handcuffs, and I happen to think it should be whoever approved this episode.

Let’s be clear...even if this episode was filmed in black and white, it probably still would have been the garbled, sleep-deprived ramblings of writing room edits as opposed to a compelling narrative about dames with dubious intentions and secrets to kill for. For me, at least.

I love how Betty still judges the hell outta Hal for his malevolent appreciation of a woman with a body count.

Archie “the Hulk” Andrews. Nobody likes him when he’s angry. This poor overseer even has to fight with people about TAKING A BREAK. Eat a sandwich, Archie! Maybe you’re hangry on top of needing therapy.

Veronica calling out the temporary fabulous gesture of flowers from Elio and demanding precious jewels. Pretty RICH, considering she got Bettykins flowers and cupcakes in s1e1. That is growth. Maybe.

“We all had problems, and a helluva good-looking one was about to walk through my door.” Anyone else expecting a Pop’s delivery?

I had to sigh. I know, I know it’s just the poor attempt at Noir language, but Jughead mocks her hat like two seconds later and I’m sure certain shippers were squeeing as I squinted at the general tolerance these two have for each other. He likes the $ and opportunity to play detective with Nancy Drew. V likes results. That’s it. Business partners. Woo.

Go, Fred! You PARENT your child! Aaaaand there he goes to take shots at a speakeasy. Well. You tried.

Is Thornhill big enough to have its own funeral parlor AND cemetery? Just makes it easier to hide the murder victims and suicides, I guess! This is at LEAST the second wake-ish thing they’ve hosted here. Weird family. Sorry you’re related, Betty.

Not sure why Cheryl is SO offended by the insinuation that her prostitute/murderer/sent-her-to-conversion-camp mom is dangerous. I thought Penelope was kicked out anyway? Nana Rose is my new favorite Blossom murderer for the weird line implying that she finds pretending to cry over her son/a man is a waste of time.

Did they seriously make cutoff vests with the Serpents insignia for the “TOO-WARM-TO-MOVE-A-BODY” weather, and yet dress Jughead in a SHERPA JACKET? I know he’s an “outsider,” but COME ON.

“MOBSPLAIN” - only on this show. Also, the line about it being “unrealistic” made me laugh. This show is such a cheeky bastard. Love watching V make grown men stand up straighter.

SMITHERS! Didn’t even recognize him at first. This kinda works? But I’m confused. Is V just...doing the shakedowns now? And she doesn’t see the issue with that? Got kinda creepy Daddy Issue vibes when she smiled at Reggie and called him Man in Black. I know WHY she did and it probably wasn’t meant to be creepy, I just FELT it, okay?

THEY’RE SO SOFT I’M GONNA DIE! The little back-rub? The cutie heart-eyes? I’m dying. But the writing was silly here, because Betty is all ABOUT investigating, and would totally help Jughead break in and have his back for sleuthing shenanigans with plenty of time for her thing. Also Betty seemed bemused/unimpressed at discovering the super over-the-top Maple Sex Club (THIS SHOW) whereas Jughead seemed totally unaffected. They have a more impressive setup at home, I presume.

Josie shoving Archie in a cold shower and telling him to sort his shenanigans was probably the most fun thing she’s ever done. And she wears cat ears and fancy outfits on the regular, so that’s saying something. Also, don’t they only serve mocktails at the speakeasy? Or am I not supposed to remember that?

Honestly? Most of this episode from about halfway on gets...expositional and boring and just a bunch of blackmail stalemates that do not further character, plot, relationships, nor aesthetic. Boo. Booooo! Unsatisfying stalemates don’t get better as a plot device because you acknowledge them at the end! Even Jughead’s narration was a hard cringe.

Like, did anyone think Kelly Ripa was gonna shoot Jughead? Or that he would be obnoxious enough to juggle the egg super awkwardly instead of getting ready to smash the thing as a threat? Just...no interesting conflict. Nor resolution. These actors could’ve used better staging and script, and honestly even the cinematography was unimpressive with a few exceptions (Archie’s shadow-pan to aiming the gun at the hooded man was one).

Jughead keeps shoving all his money into other people’s hands in bribery and I find that extremely problematic for many reasons. As was Betty’s later monologue about “black and white” morality with Hal. Sigh.

Minetta was alive? Who was dismembered then? Random goon #42? Is being a mayor in Riverdale just a cover for f***ing the Sheriff?

DOUBLE-TAP, MAN. Or headshot! FP’s been around this stuff enough where he should’ve gotten this right! After that whole “I’m not a killer” speech to Jughead back in season one, I just kind of rolled my eyes during this scene and went, “Sure.”

Aw, people keep trying to beat Archie to the punch...and the shot! (HA. The puns...I digress). The “atmosphere-building” monologue beforehand and lying to V indicates he might be on the path...to VILLAINY! (again) But maybe now he has some Black Hood closure. Some.

“Thank goodness it’s over” -- me, about this episode. Love the contrast of Hermione’s flimsy white trench coat though. Is Falice still a thing? Or was the one scene for fan service and now their duty is done?

Veronica: And Archie...if you ever need a friend...to talk to...

GET ON ANOTHER SHOW, because this episode only has time for dastardly plots and random sex scandals! (although I will accept a spinoff Bughead romantic detective show ANY TIME now) I realize everyone has their own agenda, but come on. Throw us a milkshake, here. At least Hiram will stop trying to kill the poor teenager. Archie, to be clear. Jughead is probably still on the table.

They literally had to write “In case you’d forgotten” in Jughead’s narration before returning to a scene. Wow. The narrative.

Ugh. Hermione. That cleanup is going to be a MESS. Shoulda shot him in the shower.

This is the second time Jughead’s been in the awkward position of his dad shooting a classmate’s dad. Oh well. “It’s Riverdale.”

That Bughead sex scene teased in the next episode better be good after this week’s shenanigans.

#riverdale reaction #riverdale react #3.11 #riverdale 3x11 #riverdale #riverdale season 3 #the red dahlia

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dfgxhj · 7 years

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Ok I take off my love heart glasses for Reggie for a second. Ross mentions his Riverdale role very briefly, but he says he thinks Reggie is a “benevolent rival because he does not mean any harm to anybody else” and “not mean-spirited, or I at least that’s how I see him”. So this gives me hope that Reggie’s not gonna be black-n-white homophobe or sexist like some of the lines/subplots I know about are leading me to believe. In the clip, we see him grilling Moose about what he and Kevin were doing at the river and says “Or does being w the sheriff's son give you a free pass?"

So this could be taken as Reggie knows that Moose is in a relationship with Kevin or he just means “with” as in being in the same distance. I suspect it means the latter depending on when this clip takes place. Cuz Kevin and Moose aren’t official til like ep 3 if I remember correctly.

And anyway, If Reggie does mean “with” as a romantic relationship then the line in itself is not homophobic? It’s just accusing Moose of having special privileges cuz he’s with the sheriff’s son. Which is a douchey thing to accuse someone of, of having a hand in the murder, but Reggie is known to talk out of his ass so..................

And he’s talking to Jughead and Archie at this point. And this is the conversation that’s leading up to Reggie fighting Archie. And it makes more sense why Jughead might be edging Reggie on and debating with him about this.

Anyway, that’s my two-cents on the context. But anyway, Heart Eyes back on. I love how Reggie’s manhandling a football and his stupid smile. Also Ross’ delivery at first reminds me of something....

#reggie mantle #riverdale #im.................#v hopeful on reggie

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an-escapism-blog · 7 years

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TWO IS EQUAL TO ONE

Two years after getting kicked out of the place she once called home, Arian Adams still struggles to get back on track. Being the sole person that she can rely on, Ari finds it difficult to survive in a city like New York. At the age of 26, maybe a little too old to be still attending university, all she wants is to finish a degree, get some high-paying job and prove herself one thing, that she can stand on her own feet without the helping hands of her twin brother.

Ari dragged herself to West 82 to grab her usual cup noodles and a can of cola. Wednesday nights meant night duties at the small coffee shop near her confined apartment. Being a cashier is not as difficult as being the delivery girl of a famous pizza place in the city, so during wednesdays, at the end of her shift, she treats herself at the convenience store. Excluding the half-awake and grumpy cashiers at the store, Ari loves everything about the place. People at that store are mostly in a hurry and usually keep to themselves and so they would not really give her weird looks for always eating alone. Not that she doesn’t have friends, but the realization that she has no family to eat with is what hurts her the most. Gulping the rest of her drink, she heads to Quad Cinema, a 24-hour movie theatre where she got her third part-time job as the operator of its snacks and popcorn booth. She works at the most ungodly hours of night until dawn but she doesn’t mind as long as it doesn’t clash with school hours. Imagine working three jobs and being a Psychology student at the same time. Ari barely has time for herself, but at least this is better than her old life, when everything she did with her twin was unlawful and illegal.

As she returned to her crummy apartment that she shared with a fellow struggling schoolmate, she took her shoes off and immediately succumbed to deep sleep for it was a Thursday which means it’s her day-off from all three jobs. She was awakened by a voice belonging to her roommate, Janise.

“Ari!” Janise screamed on top of her lungs as she called for her friend.

“You’re not seriously going to let yourself rot in this stupid apartment on Thanksgiving day, are you?” Janise nudged her in the shoulder and pulled her upwards.

Ari blinked in disbelief. How could she forget that it’s Thanksgiving already? School and work has taken too much attention from her that she did not notice all the turkeys and pumpkins that were being sold at the market. She came out of her room and saw Janise preparing a little feast for the both of them with wheat and sunflowers to match the occassion. Ari wanted to tear up. Thanksgiving day’s sole purpose is to give gratitude, but now, she can’t seem to figure out what exactly she should be thankful for. It’s been so long since she last shared a bountiful meal with someone. She missed her dad, her brothers, her whole family.

_ _

Two years ago

“Ari there’s a man behind you! Be careful! This is the most important job Dad has ever given us. Don’t mess it up, sis.” Kyeran shouted through the earpiece. Ari dodged as if expecting the man to have a knife in his hands. “Alright, there are two more incoming. One a man of my own size, the other is buff as hell. Knock them down and go straight to the alley, fight a few more guys, escort Dad personally to where the package is then our job is done.” Ari nodded at that. She loved her teamwork with her brother. They worked in complement. Maybe because of the fact that they were twins. Kyeran worked on the boring tech and genius side while she worked on the exciting stuff like throwing punches and knocking down men bigger than her size. Snapping out of her good thoughts, she slid down the alley and threw punches here and there. She signalled her Dad to come out of the car. She was ready to grab the package until she heard a deafening gunshot. She stopped for a moment, hearing incoherent shouts of her brother from the earpiece. She turned, and saw her Dad lying on the floor, chest covered in blood. Ari fell on her knees. She could not feel anything. She didn’t know how long she sat there until she was ushered away by her cousin, Bronwyn as the police sirens grew closer and forced her to leave the crime scene. They could not be possibly seen where the murder took place since everything that happened there was illegal. No matter how badly she wanted to pay respects to her father, she couldn’t.

_ _

Feeling lost, Ari just wanted a big hug from her twin. Maybe that way, it would hurt less. However, she came back to their hideout with Kyeran tossing bags full of clothes to her direction. Not understanding the situation, Ari shouted, “What is wrong with you?"

“What is wrong with me?” Kyeran yelled back. “Shouldn’t you ask yourself that? You’re the reason why Dad is gone! Arian, I gave you solid instructions! Didn’t I tell you to personally escort Dad to receive the package? All you had to do was follow it!” He screamed as he jabbed an accusing finger to Ari’s shoulders. Ari was in tears now realizing that her brother was blaming her for their father’s death. Kyeran sighed and told her calmly, “I don’t want to see you. You’re a reminder of Dad’s death. Just.. just get out of this house.” At that, Ari lost it. “Are you out of your mind? It was a mistake! It’s not as if I wanted something bad to happen!” She told in a furious tone.

“If I’m gone, who’s gonna take care of our brother?” She asked in a mad tone. She was their 17-year old brother, Archie’s mother figure. If she left, she would have to leave Archie in Kyeran’s hands. Kyeran finally answered, “Don’t you get it? We’re not a family anymore, so you don’t have to worry about Archie. He’s staying with me, not with a killer like you.“ At that, Ari lost it, “Fine! If leaving this house would give you peace then I’m leaving. Rot in your own guilt, dumba*s.” Pain and anger were all she felt at that time, so she just left the place she once called home and left the people she once called her family.

It’s a Monday morning, holidays are over and Ari is on a bus ride on her way to school seated across a lanky man in a black hoodie. She was still feeling a little down. She misses her brothers a lot, specially Archie. Archie always looked up to her sister as a hero but now, she wonders how he thinks of her.

At lunch time, she sat with Janise in the cafeteria. Ari was feeling uneasy. She knows when she’s being watched, thanks to her sharp senses that she developed from breaking in and stealing in the past. The tall man in black hoodie was standing by the door who seemed to be watching her. However she couldn’t recognize him for his face was mostly covered.

On her way back home from her shift at the pizza place, she still felt eyes watching her so she slipped in to a narrow alley in hopes of cornering the man until her wrist was grabbed followed by a big hand covering her mouth. She let out a gasp. She turned and almost thought she was looking at a mirror. It was Kyeran. He was the guy with the black hoodie. Suddenly feeling the pain of seeing her brother, the embodiment of all the awful things on earth, Ari tried to turn the other way. Kyeran stopped her with his long arms.

“What do you need from me, stranger?” Ari asked in an irritated voice.

Kyeran sighed, and responded. “Ari, you need to come with me.”

She scoffed. “In case you need to be reminded my dear brother, you disowned me. And I can’t be with you, whatever it is that you need. I stopped doing illegal stuff years ago.”

He didn’t look surprised by what she said. “I know,” He confessed. “I- I’ve been keeping up with you all these years.”

It was Ari who was surprised by his statement. “You what?”

“You heard me.”

“Ari, Archie is missing.”

“Archie is what?” She questioned for the second time.

“Archie is missing.. Well, not technically missing. I know where he is, but-” He was cut from his explanation.

“After banishing me from our home, this is what happens? Dad’s only command was to never have Archie get involved with these things, he’s just a teenager. You did the exact opposite!”

Kyeran tried to defend himself, “It was a mistake! It’s not as if I wanted something bad to happen!” She found it ironic. Those were her exact words when he was trying to throw her out of their house.

“Do you hear yourself? Those were the same words that I told you two years ago..”

“It’s not really the right time for us to argue. Just listen to me first, Ari. It’s dangerous.” She waited for him to continue. “I got into a sticky situation with a CEO.. and he discovered my connections. Archie, our cousins, Bronwyn and Matt, even you who I stopped contacting years ago. That’s why I’ve been following you, to reach you.”

Ari almost laughed at that. “Couldn’t you have just called me?”

“Would you have answered if you knew it was me?” Kyeran asked back. He was right. She wouldn’t have answered.

Kyeran suddenly softened. “Look, Ari.. I- I need your help. We can get Archie back if we work together.”

Setting aside her anger and indifferences with her twin, she got into the car and agreed to work with him to get their brother back. She did not feel so comfortable wearing her black suit, the outfit that she used to wear during their missions. It was the suit that she wore the day her father died. An awkward silence surrounded the car ride until Ari decided to break it. “Do you even know where we’re going?” She asked. “Of course. Archie’s been taken to Albany. I tracked him a while back.” Ari just nodded at that. As expected, Kyeran was fast with information.

Arriving at the location, the twins surveyed the surroundings and looked for spots where they can break in. The building was surrounded by a dozen or so security guards. A number that Ari can easily knock down. After an hour of studying the building, they came up with a solid plan to get their brother out of there.

Kye handed Ari an earpiece. She gets to action while he gets to the tech stuff, just like how they did in the past. Ari entered the building through the rooftop, easily hitting one guard to make him fall unconscious. Kyeran had successfully gotten the softcopy of the building’s blueprint. Entering a few codes to his laptop, he instructed Ari where to go. “Ari, there’s an armed man at the other side of the wall. Throw him a knife. Don’t use your gun in that area, it’s full of metals and the sound will resonate.” Ari nodded to her brother’s instructions. She was feeling a lot of pressure at that moment. If she messed this up, she might as well just kill herself. If she makes one mistake, it was just like proving Kyeran that he was right about her being a reminder of death. Ari shook her head. She was not going to let that happen. She still wants to finish her degree and possibly, get back to her family.

Kyeran spoke from the earpiece, “Ari, stop right there. See the metal door on your right? I think that’s where Archie is.” She tried to open the door and obviously it was locked. “Can I shoot the door knob? It has passcode.” She stated. “No! You can’t just shoot things, sis.” Kyeran went silent for a while, probably figuring out what the code is. As to how Kyeran figured out these things, it was still a mystery for Arian. Perhaps it’s the result of Kyeran spending hours with their Dad down the basement to learn some nerd stuff. After a few seconds, he was already reciting a series of code from the earpiece.

The doors opened, three muscular guys were ready to fight her. From Kyeran’s earpiece, he could hear sounds of metal clicking, gasps and shrieks of pain. As to how Arian fights off guys larger than her, it was still a mystery for Kyeran. After knocking the guards down, Ari told Kyeran to come over where she is now. At the corner, there sat Archie with eyes closed, mouth covered in tape, his face full of bruises and cuts. Ari rushed to his side and hugged him tight.

The twins spent a few weeks at Archie’s hospital ward to guard him from any harm. In the midst of the room’s silence, Kyeran decided to speak. “Arian.. I-uh I’m sorry.” His eyes were darted to the floor, not wanting to meet his sister’s eye. Ari reached out to her twin’s hand. The gesture surprised Kyeran, he was not expecting such warmth from her sister, the sister that he kicked out with no pity. “You know, it wasn’t really your fault,” He admitted. “Dad’s death, I mean.” There was a long pause.

“Th-there was a sniper. I just discovered a week after the incident. It’s partly my fault, Ari. I missed that detail and failed to inform you.”

“I know, Kye.”

“You knew?” Ari just nodded.

“Then why didn’t you tell me? Why did you just leave like that?”

“Maybe partly because I wanted a normal life. After Dad died, I didn’t want to touch weapons anymore.”

Tears were threatening to run down Kye’s face. “I’m sorry,” He repeated.

Ari smiled at him and said, “I was always ready to forgive you, Kye. So long as you said the right words.”

“I was going to get you back, you know. It’s just that.. I figured you started going to school again. Getting a degree was your dream and I didn’t want to get in the way.”

“How’d you even know I got into the university?”

“I’m not a tech savvy for nothing, Ari.” They both laughed at that.

Months went by as Archie’s wounds were healing faster. The complementary twins, now as free as birds from their felonious acts and dark past, are starting anew. Kyeran, with the help of their cousin, Bronwyn, is now starting a business focused on high-tech gadgets. While Arian, as ecstatic as she could be, still could not believe that she’s just a few months away from getting her diploma. Her initial goal, to stand on her own feet without her brother’s help was put aside. She realized that they were twins for a reason. The two of them were a package after all, and hopefully, their Dad is watching them from above with a smile on his face.

About the author:

Lanceleine Dizon, 17, a Humanities and Social Sciences student. She’s a lover of humor, cartoons and amusement parks. With her free time spent on movies, dramas and novels, she has developed a liking to stories with female characters as the lead. She looks forward to a lot of possibilities like getting herself a Pembroke Welsh Corgi as a companion.

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